Methods, devices, and systems for percutaneously anchoring annuloplasty rings

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for percutaneous transcatheter delivery and fixation of annuloplasty rings to heart valves. An annuloplasty ring includes an outer tube, an inner body member, and an anchor deployment system. The outer tube includes a plurality of windows and has an axis along its length. The internal body member includes a plurality of anchors formed perpendicular to the axis. The anchor deployment system selectively rotates the internal body member with respect to the axis of the outer tube. The rotation deploys the plurality of anchors through the plurality of windows.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for percutaneous transcatheter repair of a heart valve, the method comprising:
 providing a deployment wire, a rotation member, and an internal body member configured to deploy a plurality of tissue anchors from an annuloplasty ring into a heart valve annulus, 
 wherein the deployment wire located within the rotation member is coupled to the rotation member, and 
 wherein the rotation member located within the internal body member comprises one or more threaded grooves and is configured to apply torque to the internal body member via one or more inner tabs; 
 percutaneously introducing a distal end of a first catheter into a left atrium of the heart; 
 inserting the annuloplasty ring, attached to a second catheter, through the first catheter into the left atrium, the annuloplasty ring including a superelastic shape memory material that transforms the annuloplasty ring from an elongate insertion geometry to an annular operable geometry as the ring exits the distal end of the first catheter; and 
 controlling the deployment wire, connected to the annuloplasty ring through the second catheter, to cause the one or more threaded grooves of the rotation member to engage with the one or more inner tabs of the internal body member to rotate the internal body member of the ring, the rotation deploying the plurality of tissue anchors from the annuloplasty ring. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein pulling the deployment wire rotates the internal body member in a first direction to deploy the plurality of anchors and pushing the deployment wire rotates the internal body member in a second direction to retract the plurality of anchors. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein percutaneously introducing the distal end of the first catheter into the left atrium of the heart comprises a trans-septal approach through the inferior vena cava, right atrium, and interatrial septum into the left atrium. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein percutaneously introducing the distal end of the first catheter into the left atrium of the heart comprises a retrograde approach through the aorta, aortic valve, left ventricle, and mitral valve into the left atrium. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein percutaneously introducing the distal end of the first catheter into the left atrium of the heart comprises a trans-apical approach through the apex of the heart, left ventricle, and mitral valve into the left atrium.